Blue Cross Blue Shield Radiology
Compare Blue Cross Blue Shield's contracted rates for radiology services against national averages and other major payers. Use these benchmarks to identify underpaid codes, prepare for contract renegotiations, and validate your reimbursement strategy.
BCBS rates vary substantially across the 30+ independent BCBS plans nationwide. State-by-state market dynamics and local provider negotiation drive significant pricing differences within the same specialty.
Introduction
Radiology reimbursement is shaped by the technical and professional component split, site-of-service differentials, and payer-specific fee schedule methodologies. Hospital outpatient departments, freestanding imaging centers, and physician offices often receive substantially different rates for identical imaging studies, making rate benchmarking essential for contract negotiations.
Imaging services are billed using CPT codes organized by modality — X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, and interventional procedures — with each study carrying distinct reimbursement rates across commercial payers. Understanding how your contracted rates compare to national averages is critical for optimizing imaging revenue and identifying underpaid studies.
Diagnostic X-Ray
General Radiography
Standard X-ray imaging used for initial evaluation of musculoskeletal, chest, and abdominal conditions. These are among the most commonly ordered imaging studies in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
| Billing Code | Description | Revenue Code | Description | Avg. National BCBS Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71046 | Radiologic Examination, Chest; 2 Views | 0324 | Diagnostic X-ray | — |
| 71045 | Radiologic Examination, Chest; Single View | 0324 | Diagnostic X-ray | — |
| 74018 | Radiologic Examination, Abdomen; 1 View | 0324 | Diagnostic X-ray | — |
| 73030 | X-Ray Shoulder;Complete,Minimum Of 2 Vie | 0324 | Diagnostic X-ray | — |
Mammography
Breast imaging for screening and diagnostic evaluation. Mammography reimbursement varies significantly by payer and is subject to mandated coverage requirements under the ACA.
| Billing Code | Description | Revenue Code | Description | Avg. National BCBS Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77067 | Screening Mammography, Bilateral (2-View Study Of Each Breast), Including Computer-Aided Detection (Cad) When Performed | 0403 | Mammography | — |
| 77066 | Diagnostic Mammography, Including Computer-Aided Detection (Cad) When Performed; Bilateral | 0403 | Mammography | — |
| 77065 | Diagnostic Mammography, Including Computer-Aided Detection (Cad) When Performed; Unilateral | 0403 | Mammography | — |
Bone Density (DEXA)
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for osteoporosis screening and monitoring. Typically reimbursed as a preventive service with specific frequency limitations by payer.
| Billing Code | Description | Revenue Code | Description | Avg. National BCBS Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77080 | Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (Dxa), Bone Densi Ty Study, 1 Or More Sites; Axial Skeleton (Eg, Hip S, Pelvis, Spine) | 0324 | Diagnostic X-ray | — |
| 77081 | Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (Dxa), Bone Density Study, 1 Or More Sites; Appendicular Skeleton (Peripheral) (Eg, Radius, Wrist, Heel) | 0324 | Diagnostic X-ray | — |
Computed Tomography (CT)
CT — Head & Neck
CT imaging of the head and neck, commonly used in emergency, neurological, and oncologic evaluation. Head CT without contrast is one of the highest-volume imaging studies performed in emergency departments.
| Billing Code | Description | Revenue Code | Description | Avg. National BCBS Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70450 | Ct,Head/Brain;W/O Contrast Material | 0350 | CT scan | — |
| 70460 | C A T Heador Brain; With Contrast Mater | 0350 | CT scan | — |
| 70486 | Ct,Maxillofac.Area;W/O Cntrst Mat'l | 0350 | CT scan | — |
| 70490 | C A T Soft Tissue Neck; W/O Contrast Mat | 0350 | CT scan | — |
CT — Chest
Chest CT imaging for pulmonary, cardiac, and mediastinal evaluation. CT chest with contrast is among the most commonly billed CT studies nationally.
| Billing Code | Description | Revenue Code | Description | Avg. National BCBS Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71250 | Computed Tomography Thorax Diagnostic; Without Contrast Material (Desc Rvsd 1/1/21) | 0350 | CT scan | — |
| 71260 | Computed Tomography Thorax Diagnostic; With Contrast Material(S) (Desc Rvsd 1/1/21) | 0350 | CT scan | — |
| 71270 | Computed Tomography Thorax Diagnostic; Without Contrast Material Followed By Contrast Material (S) And Further Sections (Desc Rvsd 1/1/21) | 0350 | CT scan | — |
| 71275 | Computed Tomographic Angiography Chest (Noncoronary) With Contrast Material(S) Including Noncontrast Images If Performed And Mage Postprocessing | 0350 | CT scan | — |
CT — Abdomen & Pelvis
Abdominal and pelvic CT imaging, frequently ordered for acute abdominal pain, trauma, and oncologic staging. Contrast-enhanced abdomen/pelvis CT is one of the highest-reimbursed routine imaging studies.
| Billing Code | Description | Revenue Code | Description | Avg. National BCBS Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74176 | Computed Tomography, Abdomen And Pelvis; Without C Ontrast Material | 0350 | CT scan | — |
| 74177 | Computed Tomography, Abdomen And Pelvis; With Cont Rast Material(S) | 0350 | CT scan | — |
| 74178 | Computed Tomography, Abdomen And Pelvis; Without Contrast Material In One Or Both Body Regions, Followed By Contrast Material(S) And Further Sections In One Or Both Body Regions | 0350 | CT scan | — |
| 74150 | Ct Abdomen; W/O Contrast Material | 0350 | CT scan | — |
CT — Musculoskeletal
CT imaging of the spine and extremities, used for fracture evaluation, surgical planning, and post-operative assessment.
| Billing Code | Description | Revenue Code | Description | Avg. National BCBS Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72125 | Cat Cerv.Spine;W/O Contrst Material,18-2 | 0350 | CT scan | — |
| 72131 | Cat Lumbar Spine;W/O Contrst Materl,18-2 | 0350 | CT scan | — |
| 73700 | C A T Lower Extremity; W/O Contrast Mate | 0350 | CT scan | — |
| 73200 | C A T Upper Extremity; W/O Contrast Mate | 0350 | CT scan | — |
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
MRI — Brain
Brain MRI for neurological evaluation including stroke, tumor, demyelination, and headache workup. Brain MRI with and without contrast is one of the highest-reimbursed MRI studies.
| Billing Code | Description | Revenue Code | Description | Avg. National BCBS Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70551 | Magnetic Resonance Imag,Brain;W/O Contra | 0610 | MRI | — |
| 70552 | Magnetic Resonance (Eg, Proton) Imaging, Brain (Including Brain Stem); With Contrast Material(S) | 0610 | MRI | — |
| 70553 | Magnetic Resonance (Eg, Proton) Imaging, Brain (Including Brain Stem); Without Contrast Material, Followed By Contrast Material(S) And Further Sequences | 0610 | MRI | — |
MRI — Spine
Spine MRI for evaluation of disc herniation, spinal stenosis, cord compression, and post-surgical assessment. Lumbar spine MRI is one of the most frequently ordered MRI studies in outpatient practice.
| Billing Code | Description | Revenue Code | Description | Avg. National BCBS Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72141 | Mri,Spin.Canal,Cerv;W/O Contrst Mat | 0610 | MRI | — |
| 72146 | Mri,Spin.Canal,Thor;W/O Cntrst Matl | 0610 | MRI | — |
| 72148 | Mri,Spin.Canal,Lumb;W/O Cntrst Matl | 0610 | MRI | — |
| 72156 | Magnetic Resonance (Eg, Proton) Imaging, Spinal Canal And Contents, Without Contrast Material, Followed By Contrast Material(S) And Further Sequences; Cervical | 0610 | MRI | — |
MRI — Musculoskeletal
Joint and extremity MRI for evaluation of ligament tears, meniscal injuries, rotator cuff pathology, and bone marrow abnormalities. Knee and shoulder MRI are the highest-volume musculoskeletal studies.
| Billing Code | Description | Revenue Code | Description | Avg. National BCBS Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73721 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Any Jnt-Lowe | 0610 | MRI | — |
| 73221 | Magnetic Resonance (Eg, Proton) Imaging, Any Joint Of Upper Extremity; Without Contrast Material(S) | 0610 | MRI | — |
| 73718 | Mri, Lower Extremity Other Than Joint; Without Contrast Material(S) | 0610 | MRI | — |
| 73220 | Magnetic Resonance (Eg, Proton) Imaging, Upper Extremity, Other Than Joint; Without Contrast Material(S), Followed By Contrast Material(S) And Further Sequences | 0610 | MRI | — |
MRI — Body
Abdominal, pelvic, and cardiac MRI for oncologic staging, liver characterization, and cardiac function assessment.
| Billing Code | Description | Revenue Code | Description | Avg. National BCBS Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74181 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging,Abdomen | 0610 | MRI | — |
| 74183 | Magnetic Resonance (Eg, Proton) Imaging, Abdomen; Without Contrast Material(S), Followed By With Contrast Material(S) And Further Sequences | 0610 | MRI | — |
| 72195 | Mri, Pelvis; Without Contrast Material(S) | 0610 | MRI | — |
| 75557 | Cardiac Mri For Morph | 0610 | MRI | — |
Ultrasound
Diagnostic Ultrasound
Non-invasive ultrasound imaging for evaluation of abdominal organs, pelvic structures, soft tissue, and breast lesions. Ultrasound is a cost-effective first-line study with no radiation exposure.
| Billing Code | Description | Revenue Code | Description | Avg. National BCBS Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76700 | Ultrasound Abdominal | 0402 | Ultrasound | — |
| 76705 | Echogr,Abd,B-Scan/Real Time,Doc;Ltd | 0402 | Ultrasound | — |
| 76856 | Ultrasound, Pelvic (Nonobstetric), Real Time With Image Documentation; Complete | 0402 | Ultrasound | — |
| 76641 | Ultrasound, Breast, Unilateral, Real Time With Image Documentation, Including Axilla When Performed; Complete | 0402 | Ultrasound | — |
Vascular Ultrasound
Duplex and Doppler ultrasound for evaluation of deep vein thrombosis, carotid stenosis, and peripheral arterial disease. Vascular ultrasound studies are critical for pre-surgical planning and post-procedural monitoring.
| Billing Code | Description | Revenue Code | Description | Avg. National BCBS Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93880 | Duplex Scan Extracrani Art;Comp Bil | 0402 | Ultrasound | — |
| 93970 | Duplex Scn Ext Veins; Bil Complete | 0402 | Ultrasound | — |
| 93971 | Duplex Scan Extrem Veins Inc Response; F | 0402 | Ultrasound | — |
| 93925 | Duplex Scan Low Extrem Art/Bypass Grft; | 0402 | Ultrasound | — |
Interventional Radiology
Image-Guided Biopsies & Procedures
Minimally invasive procedures performed under imaging guidance, including biopsies, drainages, and vascular access. These procedures are typically reimbursed at significantly higher rates than diagnostic imaging and represent a growing share of radiology department revenue.
| Billing Code | Description | Revenue Code | Description | Avg. National BCBS Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19083 | Biopsy, Breast, With Placement Of Breast Localization Device(S) (Eg, Clip, Metallic Pellet), When Performed, And Imaging Of The Biopsy Specimen, When Performed, Percutaneous; First Lesion, Including Ultrasound Guidance | 0610 | MRI | — |
| 49083 | Once Per Dos Abdominal Paracentesis (Diagnostic Or Therapeutic); W/Imaging Guidance | 0610 | Interventional radiology | — |
| 32554 | Thoracentesis, Needle Or Catheter, Aspiration Of The Pleural Space; Without Imaging Guidance | 0610 | Interventional radiology | — |
| 10005 | Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy Including Ultrasound Guidance; First Lesion | 0610 | Interventional radiology | — |
Vascular Interventions
Catheter-based vascular procedures including angiography, embolization, and venous access device placement. These high-complexity procedures carry the highest reimbursement rates in radiology.
| Billing Code | Description | Revenue Code | Description | Avg. National BCBS Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36561 | Insertion Of Tunneled Centrally Inserted Central Venous Access Device, With Subcutaneous Port; Age 5 Years Or Older | 0610 | Interventional radiology | — |
| 36573 | Insertion Of Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheter (Picc) Without Subcutaneous Port Or Pump Including All Imaging Guidance Image Documentation And All Associated Radiolo- Gical Supervision And Interpretation Required To Perform The Insertion; Age 5 Years Or Older | 0610 | Interventional radiology | — |
| 37243 | Vascular Embolization Or Occlusion, Inclusive Of All Radiological Supervision And Interpretation, Intraprocedural Roadmapping, And Imaging Guidance Necessary To Complete The Intervention; For Tumors, Organ Ischemia, Or Infarction | 0610 | Interventional radiology | — |
| 75726 | Angiography, Visceral, Selective Or Supraselective (With Or Without Flush Aortogram), Radiological Supervision And Interpretation | 0610 | Interventional radiology | — |
What is a fee schedule?
A fee schedule is a list of negotiated prices that healthcare providers charge for specific services. These prices vary by payer type (Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance), geographic location, and provider contracts.
Understanding the applicable fee schedule helps providers optimize billing for accurate reimbursement and helps patients anticipate out-of-pocket costs.
Factors that affect fee schedules
Medicare & Medicaid Rates
Government-set reimbursement amounts.
Private Insurance Rates
Negotiated rates between providers and insurance companies.
Geographic Location
Costs may be higher in urban areas.
Provider Type
Hospital providers may have different rates than private practice.
View radiology fee schedules for other major payers
What is Price Transparency?
The federal Price Transparency Rule took effect in July 2022, requiring all commercial payers to publicly disclose their prices through machine-readable files (MRFs). This landmark regulation mandates that insurance companies make healthcare costs transparent to the public. Read more here.
PayerPrice gives you access to the actual prices that insurers are legally required to publish under the Price Transparency Rule. We deliver this data exactly as reported in the insurers' machine-readable files, giving you an accurate view of negotiated rates. While insurers occasionally report incomplete or inaccurate data, our platform ensures you see the same information that insurers have made publicly available.
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